Slide regulators



July 8, 1958 Filed Aug. 25, 1955 K. NEIDHA'RDT SLIDE REGULATORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BY@QWM 6/3 ATTORNEY July 8, 1958 K. NEIDHARDT SLIDE REGULATORS Filed Aug. 25, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 fill/IIIII/IIIIII/I/IIIIII/I I BYQ fi/J ATTORNEY July 8, 1958 K. NEIDHARDT sums REGULATORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 25, 1955 I N V E N TO R l?! 11 2756 mm! /2/3 ATTORNEY July 8, 1958 K. NEIDHARDT SLIDE REGULATORS 5 Sheefs-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 25, 1955 'INVENTOR C. W W fi/IrATToRNEY July 8, 1958 K. NENIDHARDT SLIDE REGULATORS Filed Aug. 25, 1955 his ATTORNEY United States Patent ice SLIDE REGULATORS Karl Neidhardt, Koln-Deutz, Germany, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Heinr. Auer Muhlenwerke K. G. a. A., Koln-Dcutz, West Germany, a West German firm Application August 25, 1955, Serial No. 530,594

Claims priority, application Germany August 27, 1954 11 Claims. (Cl. 193- This invention relates to slide regulators, and more particularly to a device for automatically controlling the speed of bulkyarticles delivered in the inclined slideway of a chute.

It is common practice to store piece goods in inclined chutes by introducing such goods at the top according to the rhythm of production, permitting the goods to descend by gravity along the slideway, and discharging, when necessary,-the goods at the bottom of the chute. Sack .silos are but one of the devices based on this principle.

The known systems of this character almost invariably require chutes or slides with excessive inclination due to the variations in the friction factor between the piece goods and the surface of the slide. Hence, the friction is often insuflicient and the piece goods, during their travel along the slideway, acquire speeds resulting in deformation by collision at or in the proximity of the chute bottom. If the containers for the piece goods are porous, i. e., jute sacks for aggregate goods, such as flour and the like, the goods will escape resulting in losses and other inconveniences, such as contamination of the air, etc. Also, when the slide is filled, the conveyed piece goods may press against one another with a force sufiicient to jam the discharging device at the lower end thereof.

These disadvantages of the conventional chutes have been recognized and various types of brakes are now in use, such asthose depending on the friction factor and electrically controlled'brakes. Friction brakes hold the piece goods for a shortperiod of time, depending on the friction factor between the sliding goods and the chute surface, and then release the goods under control by the operator, but do not provide a compensation for the tangential force. Electric controls, on the other hand, are rather complicated and also expensive, especially owing to the great number of slides in a sack silo.

The apparatus of this invention, which regulatesthe speed and load of piece goods on a sloping slide, especially such as is common in a sack silo, features a sectional slide with the slide sections operatively connected by certain control elements automatically responsive to the weight, respectively to the tangential force of the conveyed piece goods. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the regulating or control elements associated with the various sections of the inclined slide are operatively interconnected and may control one another. The invention further provides a device with a passage-actuated brake that alternately brakes and releases the conveyed goods, and a holding and regulating element which is independent from the passageactuated brake.

By dividing the slide into sections, it is possiblelt'o reduce the length of the conveyed sack column and hence to reduce the tangential force.

It is often advantageous to associate the slide with one or more retaining elements'above and spaced from 2,842,243; Patented July 8, 1958 release the passing piece goods. This arrangement finds its preferred application in the existing conventional slides as it does not require modifications in the slide bottom, and also for conveying of certain frail goodswhich are preferably braked by two polished surfaces. This system does not require a friction surface in the slide bottom. v

The above and other features and advantages of the novel slide regulator will be pointed out in more detail in the course of the following detailed description of some at this time preferred embodiments which are illus: trated in the accompanying drawing, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, wherein similar characters of reference indicate similar elements, I

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate a first embodiment of the invention in longitudinal section;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 in Fig. 1;

Figs. 6 and 7 show details of a retaining flap and of the friction surface in the bottom of an inclined chute, respectively;

Fig. 8 is a partly sectional side elevational view of an overhead brake actuated by the passing goods, taken on line 8-8 in Fig. 9;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on line 10--10 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a section taken on line 11--11 in Fig. 8;

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are schematical illustrations in side elevation of a passageactuated overhead brake, such as shown in Fig. 8, combined with aholding device;

Fig. 15 is .a section taken on line 1515 in Fig. 13;

Figs. 16 and 17 are side elevational views of an overhead passage-actuated brake combined with a pivotable section in the slide bottom; and

Fig. 18 is a plan view of the slide bottom;

pivotable section in the Referring now in more detail to the illustrated em- I bodiments, and more particularly, to Figs. 1 to 7, an.

inclined slide having two substantially vertical lateral walls 101a, 101b (see Figs. 4 and 5) is indicated at 101. It includes a pivotable section 102 with a pressuresurface whose position is controlled by the weight of the conveyed goods, and a section 103 with a friction surface which is also pivotable to a limited extent and which produces a tangential force on the passing goods. A sliding surface 104 is provided between sections 102,

103, said sliding surface forming part of the bottom of slide 101. The pressure section 102 which is pivotable at 105 carries a two-armed lever 107, and the friction section 103, pivotable around a fixed point 106, also includes a lever 106a. The levers 106a and 107 cooperate in such a manner that the friction section 103 is raised when the pressure section 102 is depressed,

movement of pressure section 102 is assisted by the weight 108 which automatically oscillates in a U-shaped stirrup 109 of lever 107 from its position below and near the lower end of section 102 to its other extreme position in the proximity of pivot 105. f

Fig. 1 illustrates the slide regulator in its position when the slide 101 is in the process of being filled. As soon as the sack column 119a-c has reached the device, the

sacks maintain the pressure surface of section 102 depressed and the friction surface of. section 103 rises.

The sacks on section 103 transmit thereto the force caused by the sack column which follows.

When the sacks are discharged from the chute 101 (see Fig. 2), they travel over and past the section 102 which then rises by the weight of sack 119C pressing against the friction surface of section 103, causing the same to descend and the sack 119c comes into contact with the smooth slidingsurface 104 which is now parallel with and at the same level as the friction surface of section 103, to slide thereover and onto the surface of member 102.

It is preferred to provide a pair of such regulators, one in the proximity of the discharge end of the slide 101 and the other higher up in the slide.

Fig. 3 illustrates how the sacks 119 are slowed down.

when they are not arrested by the regulator, i. e., when the slide is in the process of being filled. Passing over the frictionsurface of member 103, sack 119 causes it to sink, but'the inertia of oscillating weight 108 in the stirrup 1090f lever 107 prevents a quick depression of plate 103 which consequently reduces the velocity of a passing sack 119. As soon as the pressure surface 102 is slightly pivoted, weight 108 quickly rolls toward pivot 105 causing plate 103 to descend into parallelism with sliding surface 104, and the sack 119 is free to continue its unimpeded travel in chute 101.

It is often advisable to provide a slide lock near the friction surface of member 103, for example, a flap 110 which is pivotally mounted at 111 and whose reduced projection 112 (Fig. 6) may be retained in a slot 113 in member 103 (see Fig. 7).

To increase the holding action of member 103, a shackle 114 may be provided to retain the piece goods. Shackle 114 comes intocontact with a sack 1190 when the member 103 rises (see Fig. 1). It is pivotable around 115 and has an elongated slot 118 in its lower extremity 116. Slot 118 receives a shaft 117 fixed to the lever 10611 of member 103. When the member 103 rises, shackle 114 comes into contact with, say, sack 119c and retains the same by the action of its transverse element or bar 120. When the member 103 descends, lever 106:: by means of shaft 117 pivots shackle 114 and causes it to release sack 119a (see Fig. 2).

The pressure surface of member 102 may consist of a single leaf (see Fig. 4), but it is preferred to divide it in a manner (see Fig. 5) that a smooth surface is provided for the conveyed sacks in the middle of slide 101 when the friction surface of member 103 is depressed. The braking effect of the friction surface of member 103 maybe increased by means of tapered elevations, or by means of a slightly tapered friction surface facing.

Member 103 may be freed suddenly by bevelling lever 106a at its contact end with lever 107, as represented at 121 in Figs. 1 and 2.

To insure smooth oscillatory movement of weight 108, it may be formed as a roller with a groove 122 to guide it along a rail 123 on the stirrup 109 (see Fig. 4).

The embodiment of Figs. 8 to 11 shows an overhead brake which is actuated by the passing goods. A flap 226 sloping toward the slide 201 and flaring in the direction of travel of conveyed sacks 219 (see Fig. 9), is pivotable around a horizontal shaft 227 supported by a pair of brackets 227a, 227b, depending from the chute ceiling 2010. A rail 231, generally parallel with flap 226 when the latter is in its inoperative position, is pivotally supported by a member 232 resiliently carried by a rubber block 233. The upper end of rail 231 is engaged and urged downwardly by a resilient element, such as a coil spring 234, depending from ceiling 2010. A roller 230, consisting of a median disc 229 and a pair of spaced discs 228 mounted on a shaft 230a, is provided between flap 226 and rail'231 in such a manner that the central disc 229 rolls on rail 231 while the outer discs 228 are free to roll on the upper surface of flap 226. The downward pivotal movement of flap 226 is limited by a cross member 235 which normally rests on a pair of projections 201a, 2011) extending from the side walls 201a, 20112 of slide 201 (see Fig. ll).

When a sack 219 is conveyed in the inclined chute 201, it enters the tapered passage between the bottom of the chute and the lower surface of flap 226, bearing against said flap and causing it to rise whereby the roller 230 moves toward right. Discs 228 and disc 229 rotate in opposite directions. The roller 230 may be more easily moved from its idle position shown in full lines in Fig. 8 if the rail 231 is provided with a slope 236 in the proximity of its pivotal attachment at 232. By pivoting around shaft 227, flap 226 is sufiiciently lifted to permit passage of sack 219 therebelow.

Rubber block 233 lends a certain resiliency to the overhead brake and allows for variations in the diameter of conveyed goods.

Figs. 12 to 15 illustrate a modification of the overhead brake of Fig. 8, wherein a holding device and a dragging lever 337 are operatively connected with the flap 326. Lever 337, pivotable around shaft 336, the latter supported by a pair of brackets 338a, 338b, includes two arms 337a, 337b. Arm 337a extends downwardly in the path of con veyed piece goods 319, and the other shorter arm 337b bears a holding element 339 which is pivotally attached to flap 326. Holding element 339, including a pair of levers withthe one lever pivotally attached to fiap 326 at 340, and the other lever terminating in a shackle 343 cooperating with the shorter arm 337b of lever 337, is provided with a beam 341 mounted transversely in the path of sliding goods 319, andis preferably coated with rubber or the like. When the slide 301 is in the process of being filled with sacks 319, and a sack 319a is retained by the dragging arm 337a of lever 337 (see Fig. 13), this arm is lifted and beam 341attached to the other arm 33712 of lever 337.descends to stop the next sack 31%. The pressure of the following sack column-is thereby interrupted due to the spaced position of sacks 319a and 31%. When the sacks are discharged, the arm 337a descends, lifting arm 337b by means of the shackle 343, together with the holding element 339 and transverse bar 341, and sack 31% is free to continue its travel in slide 301 (see Fig. 14). When the last sack has passed the brake, roller 330 returns to its idle position, i. e., in the proximity of rubber beam 333.

If the flap 326 is made of a relatively resilient material, e. g. ash wood, it may be used for sacks of different thicknesses. The force of holding beam 341 may be varied by varying the ratio of the relative lengths of arms 337a, 337b of lever 337, a ratio of, for example 5:1, being considered sufficient.

In the embodiment of Figs. 16 to 18, the passageactuated overhead brake and the holding device are independent. The holding device includes a lever 445 pivotable at 447, mounted in the bottom of slide 401, and a fixed overhead counter-surface 446. The surface 448 of lever 445, in Fig. 16, is parallel and at the level of the chute bottom. The upper end 450 of lever 445 is tapered and projects above the chute bottom when the surface 448 is in the position shown in Fig. 16, and the countersurface 446, rigidly connected to and depending from chute ceiling 4010, is disposed relative to the end 450 of lever 445 so as to form a trap for the sliding sacks 419. The intermediate surface 451 between sections 448 and 450 of lever 445 is at an angle which brings it into substantial parallelism with the bottom of chute 401 on depression of surface 450 (see Fig. 17).

When the slide 401 is in the process of being filled, a sack 419a rests on surface 448 of lever 445, causing projection 450 to rise above the chute bottom and retaining a sack 419]) in cooperation with the counter-surface 446 (Fig. 16). When the sack 419a slides over and past surface 448 (Fig. 17), lever 445 pivots around 447 and sack 41% is free to continue its travel over intermediate surface 451.

It is preferred to combine the overhead brake shown in slide.

FigshS (0118, with the secti sons skilled in the art in the arrangement of parts and in the use of similar or equivalent elements, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to the exact details shown and described, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a sloping slide, an apparatus for retarding the speed of conveyed goods comprising, in combination, a retarding mem'ber pivotally mounted in the path of conveyed goods, said member having a surface inclined with respect to said slide when not engaged by one of said conveyed goods and adapted to be brought into substantial parallelism with said slide when engaged by and owing to the pressure of one of said conveyed goods, and means operatively associated with said retarding member for returning said surface into inclined position with respect to said slide, said means including a guide and a weight in engagement with said guide, said weight having a position of rest in which said surface is inclined with respect to said slide and being movable from said position of rest bysaid retarding member when said surface is engaged and said retarding member pivoted by one of said conveyed goods.

2. In a sloping slide, an apparatus for regulating the speed and load of conveyed goods comprising, in combination, a pair of retarding members articulately mounted in the path of and automatically responsive to the weight and tangential force of conveyed goods, the first of said retarding members having a pressure surface and the second of said retarding members having a friction surface, lever means for interconecting said retarding members for displacing said friction surface from the plane of said slide when said pressure surface is in said plane and for displacing said pressure surface from the plane of said slide when said friction surface is in said plane, said lever means including a first lever attached to said first retarding member and a second lever attached to said second retarding member, and means for returning said friction surface into the plane of said slide, said last mentioned means including a weight and guide means for said weight attached to said second retarding member.

3. In a slide having a sloping channel which defines an upper and a lower opening spaced from one another, an apparatus for retarding the movement of goods conveyed in said channel and passing over said openings, said apparatus comprising a first and a second retarding memher in said upper and said lower opening respectively,-

each of said retarding members having an upper and a lower end with said upper ends pivotally attached to said slide below the plane of said channel and said lower ends each rocka'ble into a first position in which said retarding members substantially close the respective one of said openings and into a second position in which said lower ends of said retarding members are pivoted above the plane of said channel and said retarding member extending into the path of goods conveyed in said channel, an articulate connection between said retarding members below the plane of said channel for pivoting said lower end of said second retarding member into said second position when said first retarding member descends into said first position by the weight of one of said goods resting thereon, and for lifting said lower end of said first retarding member into said second position when said second retarding member is pivoted into said first position 'by one of the conveyed goods passing thereover, a guide mem- Y onal regulator of Figs. l to7 because the freshly packed sacks are generally round" beiattached to said sec n retarding member belowithe plane of said-channeland a weight operativelyconnected with said guide member for movement substantially between said upper andsaidlo'wer end of said second retarding member and having a position of rest adjacent to said lowerend of said second retarding member for re turning the second retarding member into said first position and for pivoting the first retarding memberinto said second position whenno goods pass over said retarding members.

4. The structure of claim 3, further comprising an arresting device for goods conveyed in said channel, said arresting device including atransverse arm and an articulateconnection between'said 'arm and said first retarding member for moving said arm into the path of conveyed goods when said first retarding member is in said second position, and for moving said arm away from the path of conveyed goods when said first retarding member is in said first position.

5. This structure of claim 3, wherein said articulate connection between said retarding members comprises a first lever attached to said first retarding member, extending toward said second retarding member and having a bevelled lower extremity and a second lever attached to said second retarding member and in contact with said bevelled extremity of said first lever in such a way as to permit quick release and movement of said first retarding member into said first position.

6. In a sloping slide, an apparatus for regulating the speed and load of conveyed goods, including a plurality of sections articulately mounted in the path ofand automati cally responsive to the weight and tangential force of the conveyed goods, and a retarding device disposed above said slide and in the path of conveyed goods, said retarding device including a retarding member pivotally attached in the proximity of the upper extremity thereof, a rolling member oscillata'ble between the upper and the lower extremity and above said retarding member, and a guide element associated with said rolling member and pivotable in the proximity of the lower extremity thereof, said retarding member flaring transversely and sloping downwardly in the direction of travel of the conveyed goods.

7. In a slide having a sloping channel and a ceiling, an apparatus for retarding the movement of conveyed goods in said channel including a retarding member, a pivot for swingably suspending said retarding member from said ceiling, said retarding member having an upper and a lower end and an upper and a lower surface with said lower surface normally inclined with respect to said channel and extending from said pivot in the direction of movement of conveyed goods, a weight including at least one rotatable member resting on said upper surface of said retarding member, stop means in the proximity of said lower end of said retarding member for limiting the movement of said weight in downward direction, with said weight normally resting against said stop means when said lower surface of said retarding member is inclined with respect to said channel, and guide means for said weight yieldably attached to said ceiling for controlling the movement of said weight in a direction toward said pivot and along said upper surface of said retarding member when said lower surface is engaged by one of the conveyed goods and said retarding member is pivoted away from said channel to permit passage of one of said goods in said channel and along said lower surface, said weight thereupon descending by gravity along said upper surface toward said stop means to return said retarding member into its initial position in which said lower surface is inclined with respect to said channel.

8. The structure of claim 7, wherein said weight includes at least one roller resting on said upper surface and at least one roller abutting and movable along said guide means, and a common shaft is provided for said rollers.

9. The structure of claim 7, wherein said guide means ,is an elongated rail having a sloping surfaced section at when the latteris adjacent. said=stop -,means.

The structure of claim 7, further comprising a,

dragging lever having a long arm, a short arm and aconnection for pivotally suspending same fromsaidceiling, with saidlong arm extending from said connection in the direction of travel of conveyed goods in said channel, and means for articulately connecting said shont'arm of said dragging lever with said lower end of said retarding member for moving said long arm into the path of conveyed goods when said weight is adjacent to said pivot, and for moving said long arm fromrthe path of conveyed goods when said weight is adjacent to'said stop means.

11. The structure of claim 10, further'cornprisingsa, retaining member for conveyed goods attached to said short arm of said dragging lever, said retaining member including a transversebeam which is in'the path of conveyedgoodswhen ,saidlong arm is moved, from the path ofconveyed goods.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 381,241 Hiatt Apr. 17, 1888 2,115,647 Ross Apr. 26,1938 2,707,042 Weiler Apr. 26, 1955 2,730,223 MacLean Jan. 10, 1956,

FOREIGN PATENTS 17,757 Great Britain Sept. 23, 1895 8,175 Great Britain Apr. 9, 1904 1,093,555 France Nov. 24,1954 

